Is a book a primary source?

Answer 1

It depends on the kind of book and on the subject.

In History, a book is only a primary source if it was written by someone who was there when the event occured.

A history text book, for example, is a secondary source because it's written by people that weren't present when the things happened, who most likely used primary sources themselves to learn about it. In some cases they will have used books about books about primary sources.

In the study of Literature, the actual literary text is often described as 'primary', while books about literary texts or themes, etc are secondary.

Answer 2

Yes, a book can be considered a primary source if it presents firsthand accounts or original research on a topic. For example, a diary, personal letters, or a scientific report in book form would be considered primary sources.

Answer 3

Textbooks are compiled by people who are paid to write them based on the workings of others. The information from the primary source is processed by another person and then published, so it is a seondary source only. At higher levels textbooks may be written by the original author of the research, but because they are edited versions and are not the paper or other research result itself, they are also a secondary source.

Answer 4

A textbook is a secondary source. A primary source is a report of the research done by a scholar. A textbook combines a number of pieces of research reports into one united book. Instead of reading a few hundred books on a subject, you read the editors summary of those few hundred books.

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Oops, the above answer confuses primary source with reliable source. A primary source is something produced at the time of the event(s). A secondary source is a later report or discussion. (The discussion may be scholarly or it may be garbled and ill informed).

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A textbook is a tertiary source (that is, 'third level' source). It is based on 'potted' secondary materials, served up in a way that is considered convenient for students.

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Actually you could call a text book, if it is well done, a fourth level source. Newspaper reporters interview cops and eye witnesses. Newspapers are thus secondary sources. A newspaper report is not acceptable for a court of law. Scholars write their reports using newspaper reports and other sources. Text books summarize a number of third level sources.

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Agreed (except that it is not customary to go beyond 'tertiary' when talking about sources). The point that many types of materials loosely classed as 'primary sources' are in fact secondary sources is entirely valid and needs to be borne in mind.

Answer 5

No. Textbooks are tertiary sources, based mainly on secondary sources.

Answer 6

a textbook is considered as a secondary source. for example, in many social studies textbook it stars or quotes a primary source, it is usually in italic letters.

Answer 7

secondary source